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Walz-Vance debate updates: VP candidates tangle on abortion, immigration and Jan. 6

Walz and Vance squared off for the first and only time this election cycle.

Last Updated: October 1, 2024, 11:54 PM EDT

Vice presidential candidates Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. JD Vance squared off for the first and only time this election season.

Unlike the last two presidential debates, the candidates appeared to be more cordial. However, both running mates criticized the presidential candidates on a host of issues including gun violence, reproductive rights, immigration and climate change.

Walz appeared to have nerves in the opening of debate, but went on the attack as the night went on. Vance took aim at Harris and her policies and pushed Trump's policies.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing:
Oct 01, 2024, 10:20 PM EDT

Claim: Vance: 'I never supported a national ban. I did during when I was running for Senate in 2022 talk about setting some minimum national standard.'

Fact Check: False

When running for Senate in 2022, Vance signaled support for a bill introduced by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham that would ban abortion after 15 weeks nationwide. Vance called it "totally reasonable to say you cannot abort a baby, especially for elective reasons, after 15 weeks of gestation."

Also during his 2022 Senate race, Vance said he supported setting “some minimum national standard” in an interview with USA Today.

Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance speaks during the Vice Presidential debate in New York City, Oct. 1, 2024.
Matt Rourke/AP

—Cheyenne Haslett

Oct 01, 2024, 10:18 PM EDT

Walz says they should find 'common ground' on housing, Vance blames immigrants

At times getting personal about home ownership, Walz defended Harris' plan to build three million new homes.

"I think we should be able to find some common ground," Walz said. "But we can't blame immigrants for the only reason that's not the case that's happening in many cities, the fact of the matter is, is that we don't have enough naturally affording affordable housing, but we can make sure that the government's there to help kick start it."

Vance continued to claim illegal immigration is responsible for higher prices.

"Tim just said something that I agree with. We don't want to blame immigrants for higher housing prices, but we do want to blame Kamala Harris for letting in millions of illegal aliens into this country, which does drive up cost," he said.

CBS News' moderators then asked Vance for evidence that illegal immigration is leading to higher home prices. He said there was a "Federal Reserve" study he said he would share after the debate but did not elaborate.

Oct 01, 2024, 10:14 PM EDT

Gun violence convo turns personal

The candidates talked about their own children as the debate turned to gun violence and Vance was asked if parents being held responsible could curb mass shootings.

Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Governor and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz participate in the Vice Presidential debate in New York City, October 1, 2024.
AP

"I want to just sort of speak as a father of three beautiful little kids, and our oldest is now in second grade," he said. "Like a lot of parents, we send our kids to school with such hope and such joy and such pride at their little faces on the first day of school, and we know, unfortunately, that a lot of kids are going to experience this terrible epidemic of gun violence."

Vance said he thinks part of the answer is to increase security in schools.

Walz said his 17-year-old son, Gus, witnessed a shooting in a community center playing volleyball and spoke about how meeting with the parents of Sandy Hook victims impacted his views on banning assault weapons. He also mentioned how he and Harris are gun owners.

"We understand that the Second Amendment is there, but our first responsibility is to our kids -- to figure this out," he said.

Oct 01, 2024, 10:11 PM EDT

Candidates differ with note-taking, body language, during debate

Walz is writing quite a lot during the debate.

Right off the bat, during first question to him, Walz took a few notes. Then, during Vance’s first and second answers, Walz continued to take additional notes during each of Vance's answers.

Vance did not seem to pick up his pen until about 45 minutes in, but he has faced Walz almost continuously while Walz has been speaking.

When it comes to body language, Walz is rocking his weight back and forth on his feet, side to side. He speaks with his hands, sometimes his hands are on the podium, and sometimes his hands are closed with his arms down.

Vance, in contrast, has hardly moved his hands from both sides of the podium and is standing very still.

-ABC News' MaryAlice Parks